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Romantic Suspense #26
Quarter to Midnight
There are good cops. And there are bad cops. The question is...who wins?
After completing her tours with the Marines in Iraq, Molly Sutton knew she could take down any bad guy she met. But when her law enforcement agency in North Carolina turned against her, she joined up with her former CO Burke Broussard, who left New Orleans PD to set up a private investigative service for people who couldn't find justice elsewhere.
Gabe Hebert saw the toll that working for the NOPD took on his dad and decided instead to make a name for himself as one of the best young chefs in the French Quarter. But when his father's death is ruled a suicide after a deliberately botched investigation by his former captain, Gabe knows his dad stumbled onto a truth that someone wants silenced.
Gabe goes to his father's best friend, Burke, for help. Burke assigns the toughest member of his team, Molly, to the case. Molly can't believe she's being asked to work with the smoking hot chef whose chocolate cake is not the only thing that makes her mouth water. Sparks fly as they follow the leads Gabe's dad left them, unraveling a web of crimes, corruption, and murder that runs all the way to the top.
After completing her tours with the Marines in Iraq, Molly Sutton knew she could take down any bad guy she met. But when her law enforcement agency in North Carolina turned against her, she joined up with her former CO Burke Broussard, who left New Orleans PD to set up a private investigative service for people who couldn't find justice elsewhere.
Gabe Hebert saw the toll that working for the NOPD took on his dad and decided instead to make a name for himself as one of the best young chefs in the French Quarter. But when his father's death is ruled a suicide after a deliberately botched investigation by his former captain, Gabe knows his dad stumbled onto a truth that someone wants silenced.
Gabe goes to his father's best friend, Burke, for help. Burke assigns the toughest member of his team, Molly, to the case. Molly can't believe she's being asked to work with the smoking hot chef whose chocolate cake is not the only thing that makes her mouth water. Sparks fly as they follow the leads Gabe's dad left them, unraveling a web of crimes, corruption, and murder that runs all the way to the top.
594 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2022
About the author
Karen Rose
55 books5,104 followersOFFICIAL WEBSITE:
www.karenrosebooks.com
Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, author Karen Rose was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She met her husband, Martin, on a blind date when they were seventeen and after they both graduated from the University of Maryland, (Karen with a degree in Chemical Engineering) they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Karen worked as an engineer for a large consumer goods company, earning two patents, but as Karen says, “scenes were roiling in my head and I couldn't concentrate on my job so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and soon found I was hooked.”
Her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has published fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016.
Karen's books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London's Sunday Times, and Germany's der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa (#1) and Australia!
Her novels, I'M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America's RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
www.karenrosebooks.com
Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, author Karen Rose was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She met her husband, Martin, on a blind date when they were seventeen and after they both graduated from the University of Maryland, (Karen with a degree in Chemical Engineering) they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Karen worked as an engineer for a large consumer goods company, earning two patents, but as Karen says, “scenes were roiling in my head and I couldn't concentrate on my job so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and soon found I was hooked.”
Her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has published fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016.
Karen's books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London's Sunday Times, and Germany's der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa (#1) and Australia!
Her novels, I'M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America's RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages.
A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews
July 26, 2022
Karen Rose brings suspense, danger, action, intense moments, and romance to her first book in the New Orleans romantic suspense series,
Quarter to Midnight
. If you like contemporary romances with lots of suspense and danger, then this book is one to check out. Except for the prologue and epilogue, the book takes place over the course of one week.
Molly Sutton has moved to New Orleans, Louisiana and taken a job with her former Marine Commanding Officer Burke Broussard, who had left the New Orleans police department and set up a private investigator office. Gabe Hebert’s dad worked for the New Orleans police department until he retired a few months ago. Gabe saw the effect of the work on his dad, so he decided to become a chef. When Gabe’s father’s death is rules a suicide, he goes to the father’s best friend, Burke for help and Molly is assigned to the case.
Molly and Gabe are likeable characters and work well together. Molly is serene, unruffled, tough, has great attention to detail, and likes to take notes. Gabe is unsettled and experiencing both grief and fear. They seem to balance each other, but their attraction was a little too fast. There are many characters in this novel, but it was easy to keep them separate. Readers learn partial names of the antagonists long before Molly and Gabe. However, we don’t know their full names and how they totally fit into the picture.
The prologue is dark and gritty, but it takes a while for readers to discover how it relates to the rest of the story. The setting is mainly in New Orleans, Louisiana and the surrounding bayous. However, there are events that take place in Houston, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana as well. The book was descriptive without slowing the pace, which is fast. While the story switches points of view frequently, it flowed well.
This riveting crime thriller and romantic suspense novel keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The novel builds suspense in a way that pulls readers into the lives of the characters. The plot is full of chasing down leads and interviewing people as well as plenty of danger for those involved. I enjoyed how the author provided unpredictable moments and a little humor in the story, as there are some gruesome spots in this tale. The conflict moves the story forward at a rapid pace. Who can be trusted? How many people are telling lies? Who will survive? Will you see that ending coming? Themes include murder, relationships, families, friendship, secrets, infidelity, corruption, and much more.
Overall, this briskly paced novel was engaging and atmospheric with diverse characterization. I can’t wait to find out who will be featured in the next book. I recommend this to those that like romantic suspense novels with relatable and likeable main characters.
Berkley Publishing Group and Karen Rose provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be August 2, 2022.
-------------------------------------------------
Review to be posted approximately one week prior to publication per publisher guidelines.
Molly Sutton has moved to New Orleans, Louisiana and taken a job with her former Marine Commanding Officer Burke Broussard, who had left the New Orleans police department and set up a private investigator office. Gabe Hebert’s dad worked for the New Orleans police department until he retired a few months ago. Gabe saw the effect of the work on his dad, so he decided to become a chef. When Gabe’s father’s death is rules a suicide, he goes to the father’s best friend, Burke for help and Molly is assigned to the case.
Molly and Gabe are likeable characters and work well together. Molly is serene, unruffled, tough, has great attention to detail, and likes to take notes. Gabe is unsettled and experiencing both grief and fear. They seem to balance each other, but their attraction was a little too fast. There are many characters in this novel, but it was easy to keep them separate. Readers learn partial names of the antagonists long before Molly and Gabe. However, we don’t know their full names and how they totally fit into the picture.
The prologue is dark and gritty, but it takes a while for readers to discover how it relates to the rest of the story. The setting is mainly in New Orleans, Louisiana and the surrounding bayous. However, there are events that take place in Houston, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana as well. The book was descriptive without slowing the pace, which is fast. While the story switches points of view frequently, it flowed well.
This riveting crime thriller and romantic suspense novel keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The novel builds suspense in a way that pulls readers into the lives of the characters. The plot is full of chasing down leads and interviewing people as well as plenty of danger for those involved. I enjoyed how the author provided unpredictable moments and a little humor in the story, as there are some gruesome spots in this tale. The conflict moves the story forward at a rapid pace. Who can be trusted? How many people are telling lies? Who will survive? Will you see that ending coming? Themes include murder, relationships, families, friendship, secrets, infidelity, corruption, and much more.
Overall, this briskly paced novel was engaging and atmospheric with diverse characterization. I can’t wait to find out who will be featured in the next book. I recommend this to those that like romantic suspense novels with relatable and likeable main characters.
Berkley Publishing Group and Karen Rose provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be August 2, 2022.
-------------------------------------------------
Review to be posted approximately one week prior to publication per publisher guidelines.
September 8, 2022
3.5⭐
Molly Sutton moves to The Big Easy with her sister and niece. A former Marine, and cop from North Carolina, she's now a PI for her former Marine CO, Burke Broussard. Her assignment is to investigate the death of Chef Gabe Herbert's father, "Rocky", a police officer and Burke's old partner which was ruled a suicide. Gabe doesn't believe his father took his own life and was murdered as a result of something he was working on.
Molly was attracted to the hot and handsome Chef when she saw him at his restaurant, Le Petit Choux celebrating her birthday. She tries to keep the initial meeting professional while Gabe wants Burke on the case and not her. Burke is too close to the case and NOPD and is able to convince Gabe to give Molly a chance.
This is quite a tale clocking in at 600 pages or 21 hours 41 mins of romance, suspense, crime, and detective work.
Told from different PoVs including the bad guys,"Quarter to Midnight" is the first in a new "New Orleans" series and is a little wordy for my liking. A strong start and the last third was a page-turner. Local politics, dirty cops, good vs evil, and many characters. I wasn't sure who is trustworthy and that kept me on my toes. Beware, high body count! I enjoy the characters and mystery equally and thought the author did a wonderful job setting the atmosphere. I would like to read the next one!
Steamy medium high!🔥🔥🔥
I read and listened (Thanks to my local library!) to this one. Lee Osorio did a wonderful solo narration.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this DRC.
Published 02 Aug 2022.
Molly Sutton moves to The Big Easy with her sister and niece. A former Marine, and cop from North Carolina, she's now a PI for her former Marine CO, Burke Broussard. Her assignment is to investigate the death of Chef Gabe Herbert's father, "Rocky", a police officer and Burke's old partner which was ruled a suicide. Gabe doesn't believe his father took his own life and was murdered as a result of something he was working on.
Molly was attracted to the hot and handsome Chef when she saw him at his restaurant, Le Petit Choux celebrating her birthday. She tries to keep the initial meeting professional while Gabe wants Burke on the case and not her. Burke is too close to the case and NOPD and is able to convince Gabe to give Molly a chance.
This is quite a tale clocking in at 600 pages or 21 hours 41 mins of romance, suspense, crime, and detective work.
Told from different PoVs including the bad guys,"Quarter to Midnight" is the first in a new "New Orleans" series and is a little wordy for my liking. A strong start and the last third was a page-turner. Local politics, dirty cops, good vs evil, and many characters. I wasn't sure who is trustworthy and that kept me on my toes. Beware, high body count! I enjoy the characters and mystery equally and thought the author did a wonderful job setting the atmosphere. I would like to read the next one!
Steamy medium high!🔥🔥🔥
I read and listened (Thanks to my local library!) to this one. Lee Osorio did a wonderful solo narration.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this DRC.
Published 02 Aug 2022.
June 4, 2022
This is a massive story. WOW. There are loads of characters to keep track of and plenty of twists and roundabouts. I was so absorbed in this book, it sucked me into the mystery surrounding the crime.
Rose took the time to develop each character and lead in this twisting suspense story. There is nothing left unturned and that just leads to a fabulous reading experience.
I loved the heat and connection with the two main characters. It balanced the plot nicely so it was not too much crime/suspense or too much romance.
With every turn of the page, Rose built the suspense and it was a strong act of willpower to close the cover at night. Be prepared and clear your reading schedule when this one hits your door! You will not want to put it down!
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/quarter-to-m...
Rose took the time to develop each character and lead in this twisting suspense story. There is nothing left unturned and that just leads to a fabulous reading experience.
I loved the heat and connection with the two main characters. It balanced the plot nicely so it was not too much crime/suspense or too much romance.
With every turn of the page, Rose built the suspense and it was a strong act of willpower to close the cover at night. Be prepared and clear your reading schedule when this one hits your door! You will not want to put it down!
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/quarter-to-m...
August 1, 2022
I love knowing without a doubt when I open a Karen Rose book, I'm in for an intense, highly atmospheric reading experience with complex interwoven plot lines and a full cast of well developed, dimensional characters. I know I need to be one hundred percent present without distractions, giving my full attention to the story or risk missing some of the essential minute details and clues woven in that are classic Karen Rose. I know I'm about to be highly entertained with a story that is all-consuming, volatile and most likely graphic. I'm happy to say that Quarter To Midnight holds true to pattern, proving to be another gripping read by this talented author.
Quarter To Midnight is the first in a new series by Author Karen Rose. Set in New Orleans, it takes advantage of both the colorful, flamboyant setting of the city and the dark, deadly swampland surrounding it which Rose extensively draws from to set pace and tone, driving the story forward with undertones of impending doom. As the story opens, retired police officer Rocky Herbert is found dead from a gunshot wound that is assumed to be self-inflicted. However, his famous son Chef Gabe Herbert suspects foul play and turns to his father's friend ex-police officer turned Private Investigator Burke Broussard for help. Burke knows firsthand that the police department is a cesspool of corruption, especially among the brass, as are the political and judicial arena's in NOLA so he keeps the investigation under the radar, soliciting only those he trusts with his life to help. Burke assigns his best investigator ex-marine Molly Sutton to the case without first catching the electric undercurrent of attraction flowing between Molly and Gabe. No problem - Molly would never cross that line with a client . . . would she?
As Molly digs deeper, she uncovers information about an old case that Rocky had been ordered to let go but continued working after his retirement that involved a five year old boy called Xavier who saw a woman murdered in the middle of the flooding from Hurricane Katrina. All these years later, someone is searching for Xavier - desperate to silence him to keep their connection to the murdered woman from seeing the light of day. As the story progresses, bodies begin piling up, dirty secrets come oozing out and the story line becomes quite convoluted with suspects and motives. One thing's crystal clear . . . someone in high places is willing to kill to keep his/her dark secret.
Quarter To Midnight is an intense story of greed, corruption and abuse of power, but also a story of love, perseverance and justice for those who can no longer speak for themselves. The intensity of the story line is sporadically broken up with short bursts of comic relief provided by the crazy sidekick of one of the main characters as well as by a feisty old woman who delivers hilarious one liners, causing people to dismiss this wise lawyer from way back as frivolous. This is a grave mistake on their part. Rose's unique blend of romance, suspense and laugh out loud moments goes down as smooth as a cold glass of sweet iced tea on a hot New Orleans day. Molly and Gabe's chemistry serves to satiate those readers looking for the "romance" in romance suspense, and those looking for an intricate crime plot line that will keep them guessing until the end will also feel gratified.
Author Karen Rose is known for her long intricate stories and at over six hundred pages, Quarter To Midnight holds true to form. And yet, once I got sucked into the story, I burned through pages searching for answers and reached The End before I realized how much time had passed. Rose demands readers' attention with her meticulous writing style and precise attention to the smallest of seemingly unimportant details which often hold the key to solving the mystery. I'm happy to say Rose's New Orleans Series is off and running full speed, and I can't wait for more. Highly recommend to fans of romance suspense and mysteries!
*Many thanks to Berkley Publ. for an arc of this book and for the blog tour invitation.
**Review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine
***Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
Quarter To Midnight is the first in a new series by Author Karen Rose. Set in New Orleans, it takes advantage of both the colorful, flamboyant setting of the city and the dark, deadly swampland surrounding it which Rose extensively draws from to set pace and tone, driving the story forward with undertones of impending doom. As the story opens, retired police officer Rocky Herbert is found dead from a gunshot wound that is assumed to be self-inflicted. However, his famous son Chef Gabe Herbert suspects foul play and turns to his father's friend ex-police officer turned Private Investigator Burke Broussard for help. Burke knows firsthand that the police department is a cesspool of corruption, especially among the brass, as are the political and judicial arena's in NOLA so he keeps the investigation under the radar, soliciting only those he trusts with his life to help. Burke assigns his best investigator ex-marine Molly Sutton to the case without first catching the electric undercurrent of attraction flowing between Molly and Gabe. No problem - Molly would never cross that line with a client . . . would she?
As Molly digs deeper, she uncovers information about an old case that Rocky had been ordered to let go but continued working after his retirement that involved a five year old boy called Xavier who saw a woman murdered in the middle of the flooding from Hurricane Katrina. All these years later, someone is searching for Xavier - desperate to silence him to keep their connection to the murdered woman from seeing the light of day. As the story progresses, bodies begin piling up, dirty secrets come oozing out and the story line becomes quite convoluted with suspects and motives. One thing's crystal clear . . . someone in high places is willing to kill to keep his/her dark secret.
Quarter To Midnight is an intense story of greed, corruption and abuse of power, but also a story of love, perseverance and justice for those who can no longer speak for themselves. The intensity of the story line is sporadically broken up with short bursts of comic relief provided by the crazy sidekick of one of the main characters as well as by a feisty old woman who delivers hilarious one liners, causing people to dismiss this wise lawyer from way back as frivolous. This is a grave mistake on their part. Rose's unique blend of romance, suspense and laugh out loud moments goes down as smooth as a cold glass of sweet iced tea on a hot New Orleans day. Molly and Gabe's chemistry serves to satiate those readers looking for the "romance" in romance suspense, and those looking for an intricate crime plot line that will keep them guessing until the end will also feel gratified.
Author Karen Rose is known for her long intricate stories and at over six hundred pages, Quarter To Midnight holds true to form. And yet, once I got sucked into the story, I burned through pages searching for answers and reached The End before I realized how much time had passed. Rose demands readers' attention with her meticulous writing style and precise attention to the smallest of seemingly unimportant details which often hold the key to solving the mystery. I'm happy to say Rose's New Orleans Series is off and running full speed, and I can't wait for more. Highly recommend to fans of romance suspense and mysteries!
*Many thanks to Berkley Publ. for an arc of this book and for the blog tour invitation.
**Review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine
***Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
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August 24, 2024
2-Stars - It Was Almost OK - DNF @ 26%
I usually enjoy stories with 'Kick-Arse' main female characters in action. Not only was there zero action of any sort in the first quarter of this audiobook, the thought of another 16+ hours of listening that included "heaving shoulders", "flat abs", "perfectly rounded butts", and "musky cologne" was simply beyond my endurance😲❗😄
From my Listening Activity:
@10%: "This book was recommended by a non-GR friend who assured me that "I would love it"! I had never read Karen Rose, and I was a little sceptical when I saw that one of the book's primary genres characterised it as "Romantic Suspense"🙄, but the first 10% has been fine".
@ 15%: "Three+ hours into the 'average' audiobook (8-10 hours) I can usually guess whether I am likely to enjoy/finish it. Three+ hours into "Quarter to Midnight" (almost 22 hours) and I have no idea, but it's early days yet!"
@ 26%"I genuinely persevered with my first "Romantic Suspense" novel, but at 26% I had to call it a day. The actual writing was OK, and the story had promise, but "heaving shoulders", "the flat abs", and the "perfectly rounded butts" finally proved too much for this old bloke!"
I usually enjoy stories with 'Kick-Arse' main female characters in action. Not only was there zero action of any sort in the first quarter of this audiobook, the thought of another 16+ hours of listening that included "heaving shoulders", "flat abs", "perfectly rounded butts", and "musky cologne" was simply beyond my endurance😲❗😄
From my Listening Activity:
@10%: "This book was recommended by a non-GR friend who assured me that "I would love it"! I had never read Karen Rose, and I was a little sceptical when I saw that one of the book's primary genres characterised it as "Romantic Suspense"🙄, but the first 10% has been fine".
@ 15%: "Three+ hours into the 'average' audiobook (8-10 hours) I can usually guess whether I am likely to enjoy/finish it. Three+ hours into "Quarter to Midnight" (almost 22 hours) and I have no idea, but it's early days yet!"
@ 26%"I genuinely persevered with my first "Romantic Suspense" novel, but at 26% I had to call it a day. The actual writing was OK, and the story had promise, but "heaving shoulders", "the flat abs", and the "perfectly rounded butts" finally proved too much for this old bloke!"
August 8, 2022
What can I say? Karen Rose is simply one of the best. It was nonstop action from page one to the very end, except for the mushy parts, the very mushy parts. This one broke her pattern somewhat. Usually, you don't know who the baddie is, and you don't know their names here either, or exactly who they are, but you definitely know they are powerful people. You get to piece together all the pieces of this puzzle along with the good guys, and there are a lot of pieces to this puzzle. Another departure is that the hero is a Beta male. He is a normal guy, a chef, thrown into an abnormal situation. He rises to the occasion, but that doesn't mean he turns into an Alpha warrior. Which is fine because the heroine is enough Alpha to any situation. One thing that remains the same is the number of dead bodies that pile up during the course of the plot. That hasn't changed.
Molly Sutton completed her time with the Marines, went to college and turned to law enforcement in her home state. When she ended up taking a very unpopular course of action, she quit and joined her former CO in his private investigation firm in New Orleans.
When Gabe Hebert comes to his father's former NOPD partner for help, Burke Broussard assigns his most tenacious investigator to his case, Molly Sutton. Gabe is co-owner of a trendy New Orleans restaurant, and the hot chef has made a name for himself in the city. Molly has taken notice the times she has visited the place. Gabe came to Burke because he didn't believe his father, Rocky, committed suicide and he has proof. He just needs to figure out the who and why and stay alive to prove it.
Molly Sutton completed her time with the Marines, went to college and turned to law enforcement in her home state. When she ended up taking a very unpopular course of action, she quit and joined her former CO in his private investigation firm in New Orleans.
When Gabe Hebert comes to his father's former NOPD partner for help, Burke Broussard assigns his most tenacious investigator to his case, Molly Sutton. Gabe is co-owner of a trendy New Orleans restaurant, and the hot chef has made a name for himself in the city. Molly has taken notice the times she has visited the place. Gabe came to Burke because he didn't believe his father, Rocky, committed suicide and he has proof. He just needs to figure out the who and why and stay alive to prove it.
October 21, 2022
I enjoy Karen Rose's writing, and usually do not mind if a book is long. But in this case I thought that the story could have been edited down. I honestly feel that the lenght kept me from tension that I was hoping to feel...
3.4 stars
3.4 stars
May 31, 2022
Karen Rose is one of my go-tos for romantic suspense. I love the way she lets you get swept up in the story and she has an unusual but satisfying pacing style where there are bursts of action followed by a lot of "hang out" time with our characters. I think because this one didn't have my favorite suspense trope (dirty cops/justice system), it was fine but not great for me. I also struggled to connect with the hero. That said, this was perfectly enjoyable, but not a standout among the books in the series IMO
August 16, 2022
Keeping this review short and to the point as I've fallen behind on writing reviews. And much more appealing and demanding is the stack of TBRs that are screaming for my attention.
Karen Rose pulls another ace from her sleeve with her latest high-stakes game of bone-chilling suspense. Her new series – and the first book in the New Orleans Series (608 pages) wowed me from the book blurb and continued proving its worth as a book that just keeps on giving.
As expected, Rose continues reeling out the shocking surprises in this blistering, high-octane plot that never lets up. Weaving past and present in a highly atmospheric setting, readers are enticed by an exceptionally well-drawn plot and a compelling and diverse cast of characters.
After finishing Rose's latest adrenaline-filled thriller, I can hardly wait for the next installment. And thankfully, to ease the wait, Rose has announced the scheduled release in March 2023 of the new The San Diego Case Files Series!
August 16, 2022
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced romantic suspense novel. It is a real page turner with likable and engaging characters, murder, mystery, intrigue, and suspense. I have read every one of Ms. Rose's outstanding novels and she never disappoints her readers! This novel is the first of a new series, and Ms. Rose's loyal fans will appreciate the appearance of a character from the Sacramento series.
August 11, 2022
Gabe Herbert lost his father, Rocky, in an apparent suicide, but he isn’t buying it, but as he has no help from the police, he decides to go to Burke Broussard and his detective agency for answers. What he uncovers is surprising and dangerous for all involved! His dad, a former cop, had been investigating a cold case for years, the murder of a woman during the chaos of Hurricane Katrina. Rocky had been stonewalled and threatened to drop the case or else and it seems like his persistence was finally paying off with answers. Unfortunately, he got too close and now Gabe is trying to connect the dots of his father’s investigation without dying or getting anyone else killed.
Molly Sutton has been drooling over Gabe Herbert every time she’d visit his restaurant. A gorgeous man who can cook?! Well, not many women could say no to that, but she never dreamed she’d be assigned to help him solve his father’s murder. Molly has lost family, so they bond easily over shared grief, their physical attraction growing as they work together. Even with all the mounting threats they were able to steal away here and there and savor what little precious time they had, steaming up the pages in the process!
Quarter to Midnight was 608 pages that just flew by! It was a fast paced, easy to breeze through read that kept me on the edge of my seat! Danger at every turn as the body count kept growing. I love Karen Rose’s brand of romantic suspense, so I was excited to hear she was starting a new series set in New Orleans! This vibrant, sultry location came alive through Rose’s talented writing. Can’t wait for the next one!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
Molly Sutton has been drooling over Gabe Herbert every time she’d visit his restaurant. A gorgeous man who can cook?! Well, not many women could say no to that, but she never dreamed she’d be assigned to help him solve his father’s murder. Molly has lost family, so they bond easily over shared grief, their physical attraction growing as they work together. Even with all the mounting threats they were able to steal away here and there and savor what little precious time they had, steaming up the pages in the process!
Quarter to Midnight was 608 pages that just flew by! It was a fast paced, easy to breeze through read that kept me on the edge of my seat! Danger at every turn as the body count kept growing. I love Karen Rose’s brand of romantic suspense, so I was excited to hear she was starting a new series set in New Orleans! This vibrant, sultry location came alive through Rose’s talented writing. Can’t wait for the next one!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2022
This story had it all; mystery, intrigue, cover ups and romance. Private Investigator Molly Sutton is putting the pieces of her life back together. She is assigned a new case involving chef Gabriel Hebert, a man she has been attracted to for a while. Gabriel is looking in to the death of his father. Everything is pointing to a suicide, but he refuses to believe it. As they work together to figure out what really happened, other pieces are revealed turning the case upside down. This story was such a roller coaster ride of twists and turns. I absolutely loved the characters and the plot was so intriguing that I couldn’t put it down.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
August 11, 2024
This is the first of the New Orleans series of books.
I love Karen rose books I don’t even mind the romance in them 😂 . Pi molly Sutton along with gabe investigate the so called suicide of his dad Rocky Herbert.
A young witness to a previous murder years ago knows more than he can remember, there’s the bad men!! After him so between the three of them Xavier,Gabe and molly try to get to the bottom of things.
Another classic from Karen rose.
I’m giving this a 4.5, just short of a five.
Karen rd is a definite read.
I love Karen rose books I don’t even mind the romance in them 😂 . Pi molly Sutton along with gabe investigate the so called suicide of his dad Rocky Herbert.
A young witness to a previous murder years ago knows more than he can remember, there’s the bad men!! After him so between the three of them Xavier,Gabe and molly try to get to the bottom of things.
Another classic from Karen rose.
I’m giving this a 4.5, just short of a five.
Karen rd is a definite read.
September 15, 2022
Good story, but too long. The story could be shortened by several hundred pages and lose no content or plot in my opinion.
Read
September 30, 2022Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Series: A New Orleans Novel, Book 1
Publication date : August 2, 2022
I used to read Karen Rose a lot because I liked her intricate and complicate plot, mystery, action, well-developed characters. At some point her stories started to have chapters from the baddie and suspense got lost. When I started to read Quarter to Midnight, it was quickly obvious that this mystery will have lots of characters to keep track of but also criminals who murder people to hide their shady deals.
This was very long story (Kindle 604 pages, Audio 21 hours and 41 minutes). All the action took place during very short period of time, plus some time was spent on explaining backstories of the characters. Despite so long story, not much interesting happened. I felt if it had been edited shorter, then it wouldn't have lost anything. If you enjoy following disillusional thoughts and actions of some criminal, then perhaps you'll enjoy it more. I did not enjoy how author made me follow nasty baddie but at the same time remained vague enough, so many things were confusing, didn't make sense, got repetitive and boring.
Part of why mysteries are intriguing for me is that I enjoy to figure out the mystery along with the main characters. I don't want to know the "who" and "why" ahead of time as lots of mystery will be lost then. As much time was spent on following different characters, then Molly and Gabe's relationship felt rushed without much time spent on developing it.
Series: A New Orleans Novel, Book 1
Publication date : August 2, 2022
I used to read Karen Rose a lot because I liked her intricate and complicate plot, mystery, action, well-developed characters. At some point her stories started to have chapters from the baddie and suspense got lost. When I started to read Quarter to Midnight, it was quickly obvious that this mystery will have lots of characters to keep track of but also criminals who murder people to hide their shady deals.
This was very long story (Kindle 604 pages, Audio 21 hours and 41 minutes). All the action took place during very short period of time, plus some time was spent on explaining backstories of the characters. Despite so long story, not much interesting happened. I felt if it had been edited shorter, then it wouldn't have lost anything. If you enjoy following disillusional thoughts and actions of some criminal, then perhaps you'll enjoy it more. I did not enjoy how author made me follow nasty baddie but at the same time remained vague enough, so many things were confusing, didn't make sense, got repetitive and boring.
Part of why mysteries are intriguing for me is that I enjoy to figure out the mystery along with the main characters. I don't want to know the "who" and "why" ahead of time as lots of mystery will be lost then. As much time was spent on following different characters, then Molly and Gabe's relationship felt rushed without much time spent on developing it.
July 7, 2023
Molly moves to New Orleans and works as a private investigator. Gabe, a chef, hires her agency to investigate his father’s death.
Quarter to Midnight is the 26th book in the Romantic Suspense series by Karen Rose. It is the first book in the New Orleans series. I have read other books by Rose, and was excited to read a new one set in New Orleans.
The characters are well-developed and realistic. The attraction between Molly and Gabe is strong and happens quickly. The story is fast paced and intriguing. Quarter to Midnight is an atmospheric and intense thriller.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Quarter to Midnight is the 26th book in the Romantic Suspense series by Karen Rose. It is the first book in the New Orleans series. I have read other books by Rose, and was excited to read a new one set in New Orleans.
The characters are well-developed and realistic. The attraction between Molly and Gabe is strong and happens quickly. The story is fast paced and intriguing. Quarter to Midnight is an atmospheric and intense thriller.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2022
Corruption knows no bounds.
In this new novel by Karen Rose, she drags us into the seedy underbelly of New Orleans and the corruption that reigns through multiple entities, and you never know who you can trust and still stay alive. The action doesn't stop in this book, and while the time frame that it covers for a majority of the book is only a few days (a week at the most), I was worn out by the time all was said and done. My emotions were pushed and pulled in every direction, and I was dragged into this story kicking and screaming. Ok, not really, but the intensity is not for the faint of heart.
While we know the players that are wreaking havoc, we don't really know who everyone is since some have nicknames. But you have to know that the corruption runs deep and high up the food chain of the police department and politicians. Gabe hires Burke Broussard's PI firm to find out what happened to his father when an independent autopsy reveals foul play. This brings Molly Sutton into his orbit, and it is instant chemistry. Granted, they know of each other from his restaurant, but this is the first time they are properly introduced. From here on, it is a battle to keep their feelings low-key until this situation is sorted out. That doesn't last too long, and there are some romantic interludes between the two, with other characters smirking throughout at their behavior. Despite Gabe's career as a chef, he can hold his own when it comes to helping track down the culprits and discovering the truth.
There are so many characters you might need a playbook to follow along. However, it won't take long to get into the book's rhythm and keep track of everyone involved. At least, I could remember almost everyone and whether they were good or bad.
Outside of the action, there is levity, humor, romance, and suspense. As clues were unearthed, I started putting the pieces together but never would have guessed some of the answers that were revealed in the end. I missed a big clue regarding Lamont, but it isn't surprising when I look back at how certain things are handled or portrayed. I was shocked at what some of the characters were capable of doing, but I really shouldn't be, considering how crazy this world is these days.
I don't know if this will be a series, but I wouldn't mind taking a trip back to New Orleans with these characters. I would like to learn more about Val, a minor character because she sounds fascinating.
We give this book 4 paws up. It is a long book at a little over 600 pages, but I can't think of much that could have been cut to trim down the length. Every scene was needed to move the story forward.
In this new novel by Karen Rose, she drags us into the seedy underbelly of New Orleans and the corruption that reigns through multiple entities, and you never know who you can trust and still stay alive. The action doesn't stop in this book, and while the time frame that it covers for a majority of the book is only a few days (a week at the most), I was worn out by the time all was said and done. My emotions were pushed and pulled in every direction, and I was dragged into this story kicking and screaming. Ok, not really, but the intensity is not for the faint of heart.
While we know the players that are wreaking havoc, we don't really know who everyone is since some have nicknames. But you have to know that the corruption runs deep and high up the food chain of the police department and politicians. Gabe hires Burke Broussard's PI firm to find out what happened to his father when an independent autopsy reveals foul play. This brings Molly Sutton into his orbit, and it is instant chemistry. Granted, they know of each other from his restaurant, but this is the first time they are properly introduced. From here on, it is a battle to keep their feelings low-key until this situation is sorted out. That doesn't last too long, and there are some romantic interludes between the two, with other characters smirking throughout at their behavior. Despite Gabe's career as a chef, he can hold his own when it comes to helping track down the culprits and discovering the truth.
There are so many characters you might need a playbook to follow along. However, it won't take long to get into the book's rhythm and keep track of everyone involved. At least, I could remember almost everyone and whether they were good or bad.
Outside of the action, there is levity, humor, romance, and suspense. As clues were unearthed, I started putting the pieces together but never would have guessed some of the answers that were revealed in the end. I missed a big clue regarding Lamont, but it isn't surprising when I look back at how certain things are handled or portrayed. I was shocked at what some of the characters were capable of doing, but I really shouldn't be, considering how crazy this world is these days.
I don't know if this will be a series, but I wouldn't mind taking a trip back to New Orleans with these characters. I would like to learn more about Val, a minor character because she sounds fascinating.
We give this book 4 paws up. It is a long book at a little over 600 pages, but I can't think of much that could have been cut to trim down the length. Every scene was needed to move the story forward.
August 2, 2022
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Karen Rose takes her heart-pounding, suspense filled stories to New Orleans in Quarter to Midnight, the first installment from her new series. We're introduced to new characters and taken on a crazy adventure that had me second guessing everything I thought I knew. From page one the story went in multiple directions between a large group of characters but it was never too much and the story flowed very easily between the different settings.
The mystery spanned decades and had me going back and forth between what I thought I knew from the past and what was currently happening which was really fun. I loved the way the story was woven between these different events and had me trying to connect the dots along with the investigators.
And of course there was the romance between Molly and Gabe that was a very fun way to break up some of the heavier and more suspenseful storylines. I loved getting to know them and seeing them together. Overall, I can't wait to see all of these characters again and find out what else Ms. Rose will have in store for New Orleans.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Karen Rose takes her heart-pounding, suspense filled stories to New Orleans in Quarter to Midnight, the first installment from her new series. We're introduced to new characters and taken on a crazy adventure that had me second guessing everything I thought I knew. From page one the story went in multiple directions between a large group of characters but it was never too much and the story flowed very easily between the different settings.
The mystery spanned decades and had me going back and forth between what I thought I knew from the past and what was currently happening which was really fun. I loved the way the story was woven between these different events and had me trying to connect the dots along with the investigators.
And of course there was the romance between Molly and Gabe that was a very fun way to break up some of the heavier and more suspenseful storylines. I loved getting to know them and seeing them together. Overall, I can't wait to see all of these characters again and find out what else Ms. Rose will have in store for New Orleans.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2022
Gabe Hebert, chef turned private investigator, works alongside an actual PI, Molly Sutton, to find his father’s killer. He’s able to work with Molly because he initially went to his father’s best friend Burke. It was Burke who assigned Molly to this case.The police ruled the death as a suicide, but Gabe is certain that it was murder, and he wants answers.
Molly is a strong woman. Former Marine, she handles the most dangerous situations with flair, all while drawing closer to Gabe. As you read this exciting book, it’s hard to imagine that it only takes place in the course of one week! That ratchets the danger level even higher, especially considering what the characters experience in the course of that week.
Gabe’s dad was a cop for years, and the job was not easy. In fact, this made Gabe certain that this was not the career he wanted. So, he became a chef. Despite his primary talent taking place in the kitchen, he does an amazing job working with Molly while trying to pursue his father‘s killer.
While Gabe and Molly are working feverishly to find the killer, said killer is leaving bodies left and right. This book is dark, harrowing, and truly intense. It is Karen Rose at her best. With more than one point of view, this book never loses a beat when it comes to pacing.
How exciting that Quarter to Midnight is the first book in a new series by the brilliant Karen Rose! Danger, suspense and romance, blended with intensity and danger, made this book a compelling page-turner. The series is set in New Orleans, and it is truly an atmospheric book as the good guys and the bad guys fight their way to the finish.
Many thanks to and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/S386EbxecVk
Molly is a strong woman. Former Marine, she handles the most dangerous situations with flair, all while drawing closer to Gabe. As you read this exciting book, it’s hard to imagine that it only takes place in the course of one week! That ratchets the danger level even higher, especially considering what the characters experience in the course of that week.
Gabe’s dad was a cop for years, and the job was not easy. In fact, this made Gabe certain that this was not the career he wanted. So, he became a chef. Despite his primary talent taking place in the kitchen, he does an amazing job working with Molly while trying to pursue his father‘s killer.
While Gabe and Molly are working feverishly to find the killer, said killer is leaving bodies left and right. This book is dark, harrowing, and truly intense. It is Karen Rose at her best. With more than one point of view, this book never loses a beat when it comes to pacing.
How exciting that Quarter to Midnight is the first book in a new series by the brilliant Karen Rose! Danger, suspense and romance, blended with intensity and danger, made this book a compelling page-turner. The series is set in New Orleans, and it is truly an atmospheric book as the good guys and the bad guys fight their way to the finish.
Many thanks to and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/S386EbxecVk
September 5, 2023
Quarter To Midnight is the first book in the New Orleans series.
Rocky Herbert is found dead after an apparent suicide, but his son chef Gabriel Herbert refuses to believe this and goes to see friend Burke who runs a private investigative service for people who couldn't find justice elsewhere. Burke assigns Molly Sutton to the case.
While Molly and Gabe are working to find the killer they realise that his dad's investigation was botched by his former Captain. Gabe knows his dad had stumbled upon a truth that someone wants silenced.
This story has it all, mystery, suspense, murder, cover ups and romance.
A thrilling roller coaster of a ride with plenty of twists. This is one book you will not want to put down.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rocky Herbert is found dead after an apparent suicide, but his son chef Gabriel Herbert refuses to believe this and goes to see friend Burke who runs a private investigative service for people who couldn't find justice elsewhere. Burke assigns Molly Sutton to the case.
While Molly and Gabe are working to find the killer they realise that his dad's investigation was botched by his former Captain. Gabe knows his dad had stumbled upon a truth that someone wants silenced.
This story has it all, mystery, suspense, murder, cover ups and romance.
A thrilling roller coaster of a ride with plenty of twists. This is one book you will not want to put down.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2022
I think Karen Rose is missing a trick. The slow burn of her older books was such perfection, with relationships and thriller plot lines stretching out over pages. Now, the two leads are together by chapter 4 and you know the plot straight away.
Bring back the slow burn!
Bring back the slow burn!
September 25, 2023
2,5 ⭐️ Predecible con malos malísimos y demás.
December 13, 2023
Book 1 in the New Orleans series, Book 2, Beneath Dark waters, has been published, and Book 3, Buried too deep, will be released in 2024. (Not sure if there's more than three books in this series.)
Genres🩶:
- Romantic Suspense🤍
- Romance🩷
- Mystery🔎
- Suspense🩸
- Thriller 🪚
- Contemporary 📖
- Crime 🔪
- Adult Fiction 🔞
Book Summary 📖:
After a stint in Iraq, Marine veteran Molly Sutton, at odds with her North Carolina law enforcement agency, joins forces with her former CO, Burke Broussard, in his private investigative service. Gabe Hebert seeks their help after his father's suspicious death is falsely labeled a suicide by corrupt NOPD. Molly, partnered with Gabe, unravels a web of crimes and corruption, sparking a fiery romance as they confront a dangerous conspiracy.
I can't really speak much about this book without give away any spoilers, so I'm going to keep it to the bare minimum.
Small Review 🖤:
Genres🩶:
- Romantic Suspense🤍
- Romance🩷
- Mystery🔎
- Suspense🩸
- Thriller 🪚
- Contemporary 📖
- Crime 🔪
- Adult Fiction 🔞
Book Summary 📖:
After a stint in Iraq, Marine veteran Molly Sutton, at odds with her North Carolina law enforcement agency, joins forces with her former CO, Burke Broussard, in his private investigative service. Gabe Hebert seeks their help after his father's suspicious death is falsely labeled a suicide by corrupt NOPD. Molly, partnered with Gabe, unravels a web of crimes and corruption, sparking a fiery romance as they confront a dangerous conspiracy.
Small Review 🖤:
While I found this book to be decent overall, I tend to hold thrillers to a higher standard, expecting jaw-dropping moments and compelling plot twists. Unfortunately, this book didn't quite deliver on that front. With its four points of view (POVs), the narrative structure had its merits, but at times, it became confusing and left me wishing for a more focused exploration of specific characters' thoughts and perspectives. The constant shift in POVs made it challenging to fully connect with the characters, diminishing my overall experience.
In particular, the romantic aspect felt underdeveloped and lacked the emotional depth I was hoping for. The connection between the characters didn't resonate with me, and I sometimes wished the book had foregone the romantic subplot altogether.
To enhance the thriller elements, I suggest refining the plot twists to deliver more impactful and unexpected moments. Consider streamlining the narrative by reducing the number of POVs, allowing for a deeper exploration of the remaining characters. This could help us, readers, form a stronger connection with the protagonists, making the stakes feel more personal.
Additionally, I would recommend taking the opportunity to invest more time in building the romantic relationship. Develop the characters' connection organically, ensuring that we can empathize with and invest in their emotional journey. If the romantic subplot doesn't contribute significantly to the overall narrative, it might be worth reconsidering its inclusion.
Overall, with some adjustments to the pacing, character development, and plot twists, this book has the potential to deliver a more engaging and satisfying thriller experience.
August 8, 2022
It's been a while since I've picked up a Karen Rose book, so when I saw this, I thought as it's the first in a series set in New Orleans, it would be the perfect place to pick up from.
Rocky Herbet's son Gabe can't accept the fact his dad committed suicide, so he goes to his old partner, turned PI Burke Broussard, to investigate. Burke, feeling too close to the investigation, hands it over his employee Molly. Sparks file between the pair, but they must put that aside to solve the case.
It becomes obvious that Rocky had been doing his own investigating, which leads them to young med student Xavier Morrow, who witnessed a murder when he was a child. The bodies start dropping and it's clear that Molly and Gabe need to solve the case and keep Xavier safe.
Quarter to midnight is a romantic suspense, with no shortage of murders to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Molly and Gabe are likeable characters who I rooted for throughout. Molly is a former marine, on the surface, is unruffled, calm and organised, but underneath she's carrying pain from her and her family's past. Gabe is a minor celebrity chef, who, like many in his profession, is a bit of a hothead, but his caring nature shines through.
We know quite early on who the bad guy is, but there's still a bit of mystery in regards to his full identity.
The book is 600 pages long, which is around the usual amount for Karen Rose's books, but the snappy pace always makes them feel much shorter, although I felt this one was a bit more slow burn than usual.
There's also a wealth of side characters with the potential to be the lead in future books which I'm looking forward to.
If you're looking for a book full of murder, mayhem and some steamy romance, then I'd highly recommend this book to you!
Rocky Herbet's son Gabe can't accept the fact his dad committed suicide, so he goes to his old partner, turned PI Burke Broussard, to investigate. Burke, feeling too close to the investigation, hands it over his employee Molly. Sparks file between the pair, but they must put that aside to solve the case.
It becomes obvious that Rocky had been doing his own investigating, which leads them to young med student Xavier Morrow, who witnessed a murder when he was a child. The bodies start dropping and it's clear that Molly and Gabe need to solve the case and keep Xavier safe.
Quarter to midnight is a romantic suspense, with no shortage of murders to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Molly and Gabe are likeable characters who I rooted for throughout. Molly is a former marine, on the surface, is unruffled, calm and organised, but underneath she's carrying pain from her and her family's past. Gabe is a minor celebrity chef, who, like many in his profession, is a bit of a hothead, but his caring nature shines through.
We know quite early on who the bad guy is, but there's still a bit of mystery in regards to his full identity.
The book is 600 pages long, which is around the usual amount for Karen Rose's books, but the snappy pace always makes them feel much shorter, although I felt this one was a bit more slow burn than usual.
There's also a wealth of side characters with the potential to be the lead in future books which I'm looking forward to.
If you're looking for a book full of murder, mayhem and some steamy romance, then I'd highly recommend this book to you!
June 28, 2022
This is a new author for me and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was very well written with an attention-grabbing plot, well-developed and likable characters (well, except for the bad guy...he was a TOTAL villainous bad guy), and just enough steam to make it good romantic suspense (with a great dose of suspense). In all the nail-biting there was even a little comic relief that made me literally laugh out loud.
I definitely plan to read more and hope to see these characters again.
I definitely plan to read more and hope to see these characters again.
August 8, 2022
Goodness! My first Karen Rose book and I was so immersed in it that I didn't even realize it was 608 pages! Non-stop, page turning suspense that kept me glued to the pages. I was in total book heaven. There are a lot of players in this book, but I never lost track of any of them because the writing was so good. I love romantic/suspense books and this author just nailed it for me. I never even figured it out. Win-win. I loved this book and I'm thrilled to find another author in this genre. I can't wait for the next book. In the meantime, I need to catch up on her past books. Looking for to it!
![Profile Image for julia ☆ [owls reads].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1636739475i/5520447._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
July 24, 2024
3.5
It took me almost 2 years to finally sit down and read more than a few chapters of this book. While I did get sucked in pretty early on and liked the mystery plot, the romance didn't do anything for me at all. I also found some of the twists to be really convoluted and dramatic. I will continue the series since Karen Rose has mostly been a hit for me.
It took me almost 2 years to finally sit down and read more than a few chapters of this book. While I did get sucked in pretty early on and liked the mystery plot, the romance didn't do anything for me at all. I also found some of the twists to be really convoluted and dramatic. I will continue the series since Karen Rose has mostly been a hit for me.
August 14, 2022
Another city, another team of investigators, and of course another gritty, suspenseful plot to tighten in the reader’s gut and consume the thoughts until well past the final page. I’ve only been following along with Karen Rose’s Romantic Suspense series since Cincinnati and have made a start on the older series, but that first book I read made me a fan of her thrilling writing.
Quarter to Midnight begins a new leg in the series and a good place for new readers to jump in. There are appearances of familiar faces from past series, but doesn’t affect the plot of this new book.
An older, retired New Orleans cop knows his days are numbered because the wrong people know he has been poking into what they need to keep hidden. His convictions are deep that they need to be stopped, but never gets the chance to finish what he started before his pursuers got to him.
A career as a chef and determined to out of policing doesn’t mean Gabe is ignorant enough to accept the cause of his dad’s death as suicide. Gabe Hebert wants the truth especially since the independent autopsy shows that the investigators blatantly ignored and even suppressed the medical evidence. He goes to his dad’s old cop turned private investigator friend and Broussard assigns his best, former Marine, Molly Sutton, to the case.
Molly and Gabe share the sparks between them as they work the case. They soon learn they are up against some powerful, ruthless people who have a great bit of the NOPD in their pocket. And the body count mounts as the witnesses and potential problems are eliminated with Molly and Gabe on the to-do list along with a key person from the past, Xavier Morrow. They need to beat the clock and a dark agenda if they are to save others and stay alive.
I’ve learned to never get antsy when I see the huge page count of Karen Rose’s books. I no sooner settle in at page one and it is not unusual that I don’t come up for air until a large portion of the book is gone. And, then I’m distracted until I can return to the book. Forget everything else once I hit that point near the end when the suspense explodes and I can’t leave off until there is a wrap up.
The book pace clips along and swaps narrators each chapter or more often, but the development is strong and I never feel the story rushing by.
Quarter to Midnight was no exception. I enjoyed the change in setting to New Orleans and the situation of the dirty members of the justice system from cops on up that shifted the investigation team to the private sector. Never fear, there are still good people working in the justice system and a larger team emerges, some from past books and other new quirky civilian characters particularly Brousseau’s capable investigation team and his network in the city, to go after the corruption even if it puts them on the hit list. I liked seeing how modern private investigators work their jobs and seeing tough, competent Molly in action.
Quarter to Midnight is also a change-up with Gabe being a talented chef and restaurant co-owner with the looks that rival his food for causing people to drool. His lead role is different from the law enforcement types and yet he can’t be discounted as a team member. The romance comes on early and quickly, but the pacing of the books makes it work. I like how both are smart about it and relatively smart in their investigating.
There are more than a few secondary storylines particularly that of Xavier Morrow that trail around and through Gabe and Molly’s plot and eventually all tie in. Xavier was a young murder witness who was rescued by Gabe’s dad and what he saw puts him in a killer’s crosshairs to keep him from getting to Gabe and telling what he knows.
As in previous books, the reader is privy to the villain’s and cronies thoughts and some actions. One would think this would ruin the tension of the suspense element, but in reality it adds to it. The person is right in the middle of it all and seemed to be getting their way. I hated the gruesome body count and wanted justice to catch up with all who were involved.
The book introduced a huge cast and I teased out a few that I can see getting the next books in this new portion of the series. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted after this on all in a good way. There is more to be had from New Orleans and I look forward to getting back to it with the next installment. If you like your murder mysteries more police procedural laced with a gritty criminal underbelly and shining with true heroes on the side of justice, give this latest book or any of the past city sub-series a go.
I rec'd an eARC through NetGalley from Berkley Romance to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on July 28th.
Quarter to Midnight begins a new leg in the series and a good place for new readers to jump in. There are appearances of familiar faces from past series, but doesn’t affect the plot of this new book.
An older, retired New Orleans cop knows his days are numbered because the wrong people know he has been poking into what they need to keep hidden. His convictions are deep that they need to be stopped, but never gets the chance to finish what he started before his pursuers got to him.
A career as a chef and determined to out of policing doesn’t mean Gabe is ignorant enough to accept the cause of his dad’s death as suicide. Gabe Hebert wants the truth especially since the independent autopsy shows that the investigators blatantly ignored and even suppressed the medical evidence. He goes to his dad’s old cop turned private investigator friend and Broussard assigns his best, former Marine, Molly Sutton, to the case.
Molly and Gabe share the sparks between them as they work the case. They soon learn they are up against some powerful, ruthless people who have a great bit of the NOPD in their pocket. And the body count mounts as the witnesses and potential problems are eliminated with Molly and Gabe on the to-do list along with a key person from the past, Xavier Morrow. They need to beat the clock and a dark agenda if they are to save others and stay alive.
I’ve learned to never get antsy when I see the huge page count of Karen Rose’s books. I no sooner settle in at page one and it is not unusual that I don’t come up for air until a large portion of the book is gone. And, then I’m distracted until I can return to the book. Forget everything else once I hit that point near the end when the suspense explodes and I can’t leave off until there is a wrap up.
The book pace clips along and swaps narrators each chapter or more often, but the development is strong and I never feel the story rushing by.
Quarter to Midnight was no exception. I enjoyed the change in setting to New Orleans and the situation of the dirty members of the justice system from cops on up that shifted the investigation team to the private sector. Never fear, there are still good people working in the justice system and a larger team emerges, some from past books and other new quirky civilian characters particularly Brousseau’s capable investigation team and his network in the city, to go after the corruption even if it puts them on the hit list. I liked seeing how modern private investigators work their jobs and seeing tough, competent Molly in action.
Quarter to Midnight is also a change-up with Gabe being a talented chef and restaurant co-owner with the looks that rival his food for causing people to drool. His lead role is different from the law enforcement types and yet he can’t be discounted as a team member. The romance comes on early and quickly, but the pacing of the books makes it work. I like how both are smart about it and relatively smart in their investigating.
There are more than a few secondary storylines particularly that of Xavier Morrow that trail around and through Gabe and Molly’s plot and eventually all tie in. Xavier was a young murder witness who was rescued by Gabe’s dad and what he saw puts him in a killer’s crosshairs to keep him from getting to Gabe and telling what he knows.
As in previous books, the reader is privy to the villain’s and cronies thoughts and some actions. One would think this would ruin the tension of the suspense element, but in reality it adds to it. The person is right in the middle of it all and seemed to be getting their way. I hated the gruesome body count and wanted justice to catch up with all who were involved.
The book introduced a huge cast and I teased out a few that I can see getting the next books in this new portion of the series. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted after this on all in a good way. There is more to be had from New Orleans and I look forward to getting back to it with the next installment. If you like your murder mysteries more police procedural laced with a gritty criminal underbelly and shining with true heroes on the side of justice, give this latest book or any of the past city sub-series a go.
I rec'd an eARC through NetGalley from Berkley Romance to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on July 28th.
July 25, 2022
Molly Sutton, former marine and now private investigator, lives in New Orleans working for her former CO, Burke Broussard. Corruption seems rampant in the NOPD so Molly’s friend and boss left to aid people who have been denied justice, or need a specialized kind of help. Molly came to the Big Easy after a family tragedy along with her sister and niece.
Molly is quite surprised to find celebrity chef, Gabe Herbert, requesting the agency’s help after his father passes. Gabe’s father, Rocky, was a former policeman who left the force because of the men in upper command being on the take. His father’s death ruled a suicide, Gabe finds reasons to believe what happened is something very different and so is on a mission to prove a crime was committed. Molly had been admiring Gabe from afar in his renown restaurant so working with him against her better judgement proves challenging to keep things purely professional. Gabe questions Molly skills and abilities initially. As they spend time together, Gabe comes to understand she has what it takes to do the job.
This book has a huge scope of characters, plots, and what seems to me an inordinate number of dead bodies, some past and others present with numbers bordering on the absurd. There are several points of view including those of the bad guys so that the story feels rather disjointed at times. With so many different characters’ POVs in the mix, Molly and Gabe’s relationship seems rushed without much time to develop. Most of the characters, except of course the evil ones, are all likeable; however, there is just too much going on to make this an enjoyable story for me.
Molly is quite surprised to find celebrity chef, Gabe Herbert, requesting the agency’s help after his father passes. Gabe’s father, Rocky, was a former policeman who left the force because of the men in upper command being on the take. His father’s death ruled a suicide, Gabe finds reasons to believe what happened is something very different and so is on a mission to prove a crime was committed. Molly had been admiring Gabe from afar in his renown restaurant so working with him against her better judgement proves challenging to keep things purely professional. Gabe questions Molly skills and abilities initially. As they spend time together, Gabe comes to understand she has what it takes to do the job.
This book has a huge scope of characters, plots, and what seems to me an inordinate number of dead bodies, some past and others present with numbers bordering on the absurd. There are several points of view including those of the bad guys so that the story feels rather disjointed at times. With so many different characters’ POVs in the mix, Molly and Gabe’s relationship seems rushed without much time to develop. Most of the characters, except of course the evil ones, are all likeable; however, there is just too much going on to make this an enjoyable story for me.
August 10, 2022
Another new book from Karen Rose? Yes, please, and thank you!
I know to expect an epic story from Ms. Rose, but I defenitely wasn't expecting all of what I received in this one!
Between the road trip, the criminals, the budding sexual tension with the main characters, the fun side characters, the mystery, the family connections... This book had so much going on, there was never a dull moment!
I "breezed" through this book (as much one can breeze through a book this size). I found myself sneaking in reading every opportunity I could get. I couldn't get enough of the suspense, curious when the next turn would come.
I don't really know what else to say about this book. It's a wild ride. And everyone needs to hold on tight and dive in!
I know to expect an epic story from Ms. Rose, but I defenitely wasn't expecting all of what I received in this one!
Between the road trip, the criminals, the budding sexual tension with the main characters, the fun side characters, the mystery, the family connections... This book had so much going on, there was never a dull moment!
I "breezed" through this book (as much one can breeze through a book this size). I found myself sneaking in reading every opportunity I could get. I couldn't get enough of the suspense, curious when the next turn would come.
I don't really know what else to say about this book. It's a wild ride. And everyone needs to hold on tight and dive in!
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